JACKIE PATERSON

Born in Springside, Ayrshire, in 1920, he emigrated with his family to Pennsylvania, USA when he was eight. He returned in his early teens to work at John Brown & Co on the Clyde, then became a butcher before joining a boxing club and turning pro when he was 17.

Comparatively broad for a flyweight, the southpaw soon became renowned for having a knockout punch in either hand, and he won the British title in Glasgow in 1939 by knocking out Paddy Ryan in the 13^thround.

While serving in the RAF, he continued to box throughout World War II, claiming the vacant Empire title by beating Richie Kid Tanner in 1940. In February 1941, he defended both titles against Paddy Ryan, winning on a technical knockout in the eighth. Nine days later he beat Empire bantamweight champion Jim Brady on points in a non-title fight.

Jackie’s greatest triumph came on 19 June 1943, when he defeated Peter Kane in 61secs at Hampden Park to become the world flyweight champion. Later that year he beat Jim Brady to win the Commonwealth bantamweight crown.

The following year he disposed of Frenchman Theo Medina in London to become world, British and Commonwealth flyweight champion, as well as Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion.

Jackie returned to Hampden in 1946 to successfully defend his flyweight title against Liverpool’s Joe Curran in front of 45,000 people, and enjoyed further bantamweight success the following year. After struggles with his weight, he lost his title to Rinty Monaghan in Belfast in 1948, and his final 12 fights resulted in only three wins.

By the time he hung up his gloves in 1951, the Scot had won 64 of his 92 fights, 41 by KO. He moved to South Africa, where he worked as a lorry driver until he was fatally stabbed in 1966. He was 46.